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Brazil announces 3 days of mourning following Pele's death

30 December 2022 09:56 (UTC +04:00)

Brazil declared three days of mourning Thursday following the death of Pele, APA reports citing Anadolu Agency.

"Official mourning is declared throughout the country, for a period of three days, counted from the date of publication of this Decree, as a sign of sorrow for the death of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele, a former football player," according to a decree signed by outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro.

Pele's death moved Brazilians to pay tribute to the icon of the beautiful game.

Bolsonaro wrote on Twitter that Pele "through football, took the name of Brazil to the world. He turned football into art and joy. May God comfort your family and welcome you into his infinite mercy."

President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva described himself as one of the privileged Brazilians who were able to experience the "show" Pele conducted.

"When he got the ball he always did something special, which often ended up in a goal," Lula wrote on Twitter. "Few Brazilians took the name of our country as far as he did," he said, noting how people around the globe learned to say "the magic word: "Pele."

Lula said Pele would be in the company of distinguished footballing greats Coutinho, Didi, Garrincha, Nilton Santos, Socrates and Maradona, and added there would never be another "number 10 like him Thank you, Pele."

The wake for Pele will take place Monday after his body leaves Sao Paulo.